My Poor Brain

I went to see a movie tonight. The process I went through to decide between The Reader and Gran Torino went something like this: The Reader is about a woman, and Gran Torino is about a grumpy old man. I feel like a grumpy old man right now, Gran Torino it is.

I don’t know if Clint Eastwood set out to make a comedy, but he just made a heck of a dark (racist) comedy.

Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) tells a joke:

A Jew, a Mexican, and a Gook walk in to a bar. The bartender says, “Get the fuck out!”

Walt then laughs his ass off.

If you are feeling grumpy, then, surprisingly, this movie about a grumpy guy will leave you happy and inspired. It does cover serious themes, most obvious: Life and Death. The life of Thao: Walt’s neighbor that becomes Walt’s apprentice of sorts, and the approaching death of Walt: A Korean War veteran approaching the end of his life.

The title, Gran Torino, comes from Walt’s prized Ford Gran Torino. As part of an initiation into a gang, Thao tries to steal it. He gets caught by Walt, and Thao’s family insists he repay a debt to Walt and work for him. Walt eventually takes him under his wing and helps him on the path to become a man. Thao had previously grown up without a role model or father figure.

This is a great film, and something that Clint Eastwood should be proud of in retirement.

I also recommend that nobody eat an abundance of Taco Bell prior to sitting for 90 minutes.